Draft:Rolling knife sharpener
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| Submission declined on 21 November 2025 by Reba16 (talk). The focus of this article suggests that its purpose is to promote the company HORL and its products. If the creator of this article has a conflict of interest, this should be declared. See Wikipedia:Conflict of interest for details.
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A rolling knife sharpener is a handheld device for sharpening kitchen and outdoor knives. The system employs a blade guide that holds the knife stationary while a cylindrical sharpening element, typically containing abrasive discs, is rolled along the edge of the knife. This design allows users to achieve a consistent sharpening angle with relative ease compared to traditional methods like whetstones. The rolling knife sharpener was invented by Otmar Horl, a German construction engineer, in 2016.[1]
Background
[edit]Knife sharpening is the process of restoring or refining the cutting edge of a blade by removing or realigning material along its edge. Traditional methods include the use of a whetstone, honing steel, or electric sharpening machine. While whetstones and machines remove material to form a new edge, a honing steel primarily realigns the existing edge without significant abrasion. In all of these systems, the user must guide the blade against a stationary abrasive surface while maintaining a consistent angle and even pressure — a process that requires skill and experience. Achieving uniform results can be challenging, especially for home users, as small variations in angle can affect sharpness, edge durability, and the amount of material removed.
History
[edit]The rolling knife sharpener was invented in 2016 by Otmar Horl, a construction engineer, together with his son Timo Horl, a designer, in Freiburg, Germany.[2][3] They developed the device as an alternative to traditional sharpening techniques—such as whetstones and honing steels—aiming to create a system that allows users of varying experience levels to achieve consistent results [3]
The initial prototypes created in 2016 evolved into the first commercial product, the Rolling Knife Sharpener. Subsequent iterations have introduced improvements in materials, precision, and functionality, leading to later models such as the HORL2, HORL2 Pro, and HORL3 [4].
Functionality
[edit]A rolling knife sharpener typically consists of two main components:
- Roller with sharpening discs – a cylindrical unit featuring discs on both its upper and lower surfaces. These discs, which can be diamond-coated or made from other abrasive materials, are interchangeable and allow both sharpening and honing of the blade.
- Magnetic angle guide – holds the knife at a precise angle, typically between 15° and 20°, ensuring consistent edge formation[5].
Through accurate reproduction of the blade’s sharpening angle, the system ensures that material is removed only where necessary and in minimal amounts. This system has been described as the HORL Principle, named after its inventors[6]. The process relies on controlled pressure and rotational motion of the discs. Users can progress through discs of different grit sizes to achieve coarse sharpening, edge refinement, and fine polishing.[7]
Reception and Distribution
[edit]The rolling knife sharpener system, particularly as popularized by the HORL brand, has been featured in culinary magazines and trade publications, including coverage in Spiegel and The New York Times. The product has been noted by reviewers for its precision and ease of achieving a consistent sharpening angle.
The company's specific product models have received design recognition, including the iF Design Award for the HORL2[8] in 2022 and the HORL3 Pro[9] in 2025.
Initially sold in Germany, the product's distribution expanded to include several European markets[10] and, since 2022, the United States.[11]
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Jr, Core (2023-01-02). "A Father-and-Son Design Team Created the Easy-to-Use Horl Sharpener". Core77. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Conrad, Andreas (2020-05-05). "Rollschleifer HORL1993 – immer eine scharfe Sache" [Rolling Knife Sharpener HORL 1993 - always a sharp matter]. Front Row Society (in German). Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ a b Tiefenbacher, Anna; Moser, Talisa (2020-02-01). "3 Fragen an Otmar & Timo Horl" [3 Questions for Otmar & Timo Horl]. Living at Home (in German) (2): 8. ISSN 1617-3589.
- ^ "HORL 1993 Launch HORL 3 Range of Sharpeners". fabnews. 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ "15° oder 20°?". HORL. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
- ^ Kronsberg, Matthew (2024-02-21). "An Idiot-Proof Way to Keep Your Knives Sharp Will Cost You $429". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Wagner, Peter (2023-11-19). "So werden Ihre Messer wieder richtig scharf" [How to make your knives really sharp again]. Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ "HORL2 knife sharpener". iF Design Award. 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ "HORL3 Pro knife sharpener". iF Design Award. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ "Horl lance ses aiguiseurs de 2e génération" [Horl launches its 2nd generation of sharpeners]. offrir international (in French). 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Fabricant, Florence (2023-07-05). "Sharp Knives Start With the Right Tools". The New York Times.